Production of polymerization products



e, lees away PRODUCTION F POLYBIERIZATION PRODUCTS Mex Wittwer, Ludwigslcafen-on-the-R-e, Germany, assignor to ll. G. Farbcnindustrle Alrtien= gesellscliart, Fsonlrlort-on-the-liiain, Genny No Drawing. duplication February l, 1933, Serial No. 654,769. lin Germany Felbruery 212; 1932 9 Claims. (oi. 260-54) The present invention relates to the produccontinuously; in the former case the polymerized tion of polymerization products, in particular to reaction product is removed et'the rete ct which polymerization products from ellsylene OlildfiSw. it is formed from the polymerization vessel, es

In the U. S. P. No. 1,921,378, a. process for the for example on: autoclave. The remaining re= 55 production of polymerization products or" ethy action conditions erethe some osthosedescribed fi lene oxide and m' -propylene oxide has been de in the eloreseid petent; In 'compsrison'to the scribed according to which vapors of the said polymerization-of the allzylene oxides in the liquid ellaylene oxides ere brought into contact with phase and in the presence of catalysts the pressolld, non-metallic, inorganic polymerization ent invention permits one to strictly ovoid any 49 catalysts while heating. When employing catedanger of explosion and furnishes considerably lysts having an alkaline nature, from solid to higher yields in a, given period of working than liquid wax-like products of .a. higher stage 03lthe;,;process according to the'seid' patent, the polymerization thendioxene; are obtained, present-process bei ca ied. out-moreove 1n whereas dioxarie is obtained when acid reacting much more simpleend less expensive apparatus.

1 3 catalysts of the said kind are used. The' iollowing exampleswill further illustrete 7G I have now found that the said polymerized, the nature of this invention buttheinventionis compounds ereobtained in an especially edvenr-x not restricted to these exemplesl. tergeous end simple manner by carrying out the. i l e polymerization of ethylene or iii-propylene oxide 1 "I- A so by means of catalysts having an alkalin nat re 10 kilograms of polymerized ethylene oxide to in the presence of solvents inert to the said silky-u haying a, melting point. of from 57 to 52 C. are lene oxides. As a further modification the presintroduced 1 1 0 a ir ing vessel provided w t a: out process may be carried out not only in the eflu cond nse a d. having'a'oopaoityof. about vapor phase, but also in the liquid phase. Thus, litres, and the vesse'l'is' heated tolirom about l for example, liquid or gaseous ehylene oxide may to C. after adding 1 Q fil Q P W- 3i? ice contacted with the catalyst having an alkaline dered caustic potash. Vaporous -.;etl ylenej oxide nesure, as for example metallic sodium, SOfiilllllis then led into the mixture. atthe ralte'etwhlch elcoholetes, caustic soda, caustic potash or soit is polymerized. In this manner without spediusn acetate and alkaline earth metal hydroxcial p au on a u "o thylen xide 3% ides, which are dissolved or suspended in the solequal t0 that Originally p se t may be polymcres rent, at the rate at which the polymerization proized within from 3 to 4 hours in a, simp mannercoeds, if desired with the employment or in- The speed o introduction of h ethylene oxide creased pressure. may be increased according to the content of the As solvents may he mentioned those organic vessel of polymeric oxide which gradually lieliquids which themselves are inert to the alkylene comes greater. The conversion is qusntitetive til oxides, i. e. which are incapable of reacting with and the product is very pure and uniform. the added oxide, as for example aliphatic, oro- Example 2 rustic or leydreeromotic hydrocarbons, or ethers or esters which me free from alcoholic and 10 kilogra 0f POlymeTiZed ethylene Oxide primary or secondary amino groups, since moving a, melting point of from 57 to 62 C. and c5 otherwise, a" for example when employ- 1 kilogram of powdered caustic potash are introelcohols, e pert oi the elkylene oxide duced as described in Example 1 into a, stirring reacts the solvent, and the product vessel provided with a reflux condenser. After thus formed can only be separated from the deheeting the mixture to from 110 to 136 0., liquid sired reaction product with difliculty besides the ethylene oxide is allowed to flow in at the rote loo loss of initial material. Specific solvents suit at which it is polymerized In this manner Em able for use are for example ethylene chloride or amount of polymerized ethylene oxide equal to bromide, acetone, carbon tetrachloride, benzene, that already present is Obtained in t e course toluene, xylene, cyclohexene, di-ethyl ether, diof about lhours. The yield in this case also is so smyl ether, ethyl. ecetcte and outyl acetate. It quantitative. y w

is especially advantageous to use the correspond- Example 3 ing polymerized oxide in the liquid state as the solvent, for example polymerized propylene oxide A mixture of polymerized ethylene oxide havfor the polymerization of propylene oxide. The ing 9, melting point of from 57 to 62 C. and

" 65 process may be carried out continuously or dis- 10 percent of powdered caustic potash is heated 110 to from about 120 to 130 C. m an autoclave.

Example 4 I 10 kilograms oi highly viscous polymerized propylene oxide and 1 kilogram oi. powdered caustic potash and are introduced into-a stirring vessel oi. about litres capacity. After heating -the mixtureto from about 120 to 130 0., vaporous propylene oxid is led in at such aspeed that no unchanged propylene oxide escapes. 'In this manner an amount oi-polymerized product equal to that already present maybe simply obtained in about 3 hours. The speedof introduction of the propylene oxide may be increased to correspond to the increasing contents of the vessel. The yield of polymerized propylene oxide is quantitative'and the product ,is very pure.

Example 5 10 kilograms of highly viscous polymerized propyleneoxide and 1 kilogram of powdered caustic potash are introduced into a vessel as described in Example 4. After heat I to from 120 to 130 C. liquid propylene oxid is led in at the rate at which itis polymerized. After about 3 hours an amount or polymerization product is formed equal to that already present. The yield is quantitative.

Example 6 Liquid propylene oxide is polymerized simply ,and rapidly by pressing it into an autoclave containing a mixture of highly viscous polymerized propylene oxide and 10 percent by weight of the polymeric propylene -oxide of powdered caustic potash which has been heated to from to 130 C. The propylene.v oxide is supplied in the manner described in Example 3.

Example 7 Vapors of ethylene oxide are introduced into a mixture of 10 kilograms of ethyl benzene (boiling point 136 C.) -and 1 kilogram of pulverized potassium hydroxide heated to from to C. in a stirring vessel provided with a reflux condenser while' vigorously stirring, the ethylene oxide being introduced at the rate at which it is polymerized -in the said mixture. Alter the reaction, the ethyl benzene which is absorbed by the gradually increasing quantity of the polymerization product of the ethylene oxide, may be removed irom the latter by heating in vacuo or may be left. therein it it is not injurious in the desired application of the polymerization product.

- Instead of the ethyl benzene, dibutyl ether .(boiling point 141 C.) may be employed.

Example 8 A mixture oi dioxane with 10 percent of its weight of pulverized potassium hydroxide is heated in an autoclave to about 120 0., liquid ethylene oxide then being gradually pressed into the mixture. Fresh quantities of ethylene oxide are added preferably only when the increase in presin as desired.

sure and in temperature occurring in the auto.- clave has subsided and is decreasing again. The dioxane may be removed from the polymerization product by heating in vacuo or may be left there- Example 9- Liquid propylene oxide is introduced, while vigorously stirring,-- into a mixture 01 10 kilograms of dibutyl ether and 1 kilogram of pulverized potassium hydroxide, heated to from 120 to 130 C. in the manner described in Example 7. The dibutyl ether may be distilled ofl in vacuo from the resulting polymeric propylene oxide or may be left therein.

What I claim is 1. A process for the production of polymerize:

tion products or a higher stage of polymerization than dioxane, which comprises contacting, while warming, an alkylene oxide selected rrom the group consisting of ethylene oxide and a-propylene oxide. with an alkaline reacting compound of a metal selected from the group consisting of the alkali metals and alkaline earth metals in the presence of an organic liquid inert to the alkylene oxide employed.- j 2. A- process for the'production oi polymerization products ota higher stage of polymerization than dioxane, which comprises contacting, while warming, an alkylene oxide selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide and a-propylene oxide with an alkaline reacting compound or an alkali metal, in the presence oi an organic liquid inert to the alkylene oxide employed.

3. A process for the production or polymerization products of a higher stage of polymerization than dioxane, which comprises contacting, while warming vapors of an alkylene oxide selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide and a-, propylene oxide with a mixture or an. alkaline reacting compound of a metal selected trom the 1 group consisting of the alkali metals and alkaline earth metals and 01 an organic liquid inert to the alkylene oxide employed.

4. A process for the production of polymerization products 01' a higher stage 01 polymerization 0 than dioxane. which comprises introducing in the liquid state an alkylene oxide selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide and of propylene oxide into'a mixture of an alkaline reacting compound of a metal selected from the group consisting of the alkali metals and alkaline earth metals and of an organic liquid inert to the alkylene oxide employed, while warming to from about 40 to about 200 C.

5. A process for the production of polymeriza- 130 tion products of a higher stage oi! polymerization than'dioxane, which comprises introducing in the liquid state an alkylene oxide selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide and a-propylene oxide into a mixture of an alkaline reacting 135 compound of an alkali metal and of a liquefied polymerized alkylene oxide inert to the alkylene oxide employed, while warming to from about 100 to about 160 C.

6. A process for the productirm oi polymerization products of a higher stage of polymerization than dioxane, which comprises introducing liquid ethylene oxide into a mixture ofan alkaline reacting compound of an alkali metal and of an organic liquid inert to ethylene oxide employed, 5 while warming to from about 100 to about 160C.

7. A process for the production of polymerization products of a higher stage of polymerization than dioxane, which comprises introducing Liquid etlnrlene oxide into a mixture of an alkaline react- Lemma 1o oxide, inert to the alblene. oxide employed, whilewarming to 1mm ebout on" to about 100' c.

9. A process tor the production of polymerize-- tion products oi a. hizher ltace of polymeriution than dio'xene, which comprises introducinz' liquid ethylene oxide into a. mixture of analkeiine re-, ectingcompoundoianalhlimetalandote liquefied polymerized ethylene oxide name I meltinz point of from 57 to 62 6., while wet-min: toiromi00to|.bout160C.. 

